Jazz No. 5 overall pick Ace Bailey has impressed the organization with his energy in his first summer league outings, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon writes. Bailey sealed the Jazz’s victory on Saturday with a free throw and showcased physicality and impressive defensive effort in the game.
“All that stuff isn’t talked about enough,” coach Will Hardy said of Bailey’s willingness to defend and rebound. “The offense will come. He’s learning a new system and new people and has been worked hard the last four days [in practice]. He’s an NBA body and athlete. He’s a great teammate too. I’ve had nothing but positive reviews from all the coaches and his teammates this first week.”
In other news, the Jazz planned to have Omar Cooper Jr., the son of Bailey’s advisor (and Sharife Cooper‘s twin brother), serve as a guest coach during Summer League. However, after the league office contacted Utah to raise concerns, that’s no longer happening, according to MacMahon.
We have more notes from the Jazz:
- Although there was outside noise about whether or not he wanted to be in Utah, Bailey told The Athletic’s Tony Jones that he’s focused on being the best player he can be for Utah. “Of course, you have to be aware of the business side of basketball,” Bailey said. “But I didn’t ask for all of this to come with it. I just want to hoop. I want to keep the main thing the main thing and stay focused. During pre-draft, I was surrounded by family and love. I’m big on family and loyalty. They were there for me even before I was Ace Bailey.”
- Two-way signee RJ Luis‘ contract covers two years with Utah, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto (Twitter link). Luis averaged 18.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for St. John’s last season but went undrafted in June.
- By sending out assets or taking back modest returns — or nothing at all — for the trifecta of Collin Sexton, John Collins, and Jordan Clarkson, the Jazz are signaling that they’re resetting the franchise’s foundation, writes Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune (subscriber link). When they traded away Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in 2022, the Jazz initially envisioned a two- or three-year rebuild and viewed players like Sexton, Collins, and Clarkson as potential contributors on Utah’s next competitive team, Larsen explains. By trading those players and drafting Bailey and Walter Clayton Jr., new team president Austin Ainge has completed the club’s teardown and fully committed to the rebuild.
- Brice Sensabaugh looked like the best player on the floor in the Jazz’s second Summer League game and his improvement on the defensive end is certainly notable, Larsen writes in another Salt Lake Tribune story. While Sensabaugh still playing Summer League games heading into his third year could be looked at as a disappointment, Larsen points out that such a move paid dividends for Walker Kessler.
Isaiah Collier is the key. This team has needed a pg since they traded Conley. If Zay is that guy then Jazz could already be on the right track. If not they’ll still be alright bc there’s a bunch of great pg prospects in this upcoming draft class & they should have a high pick & the ability to take whoever they feel is the best of that great class. But they got their star to build around in Ace & they got nice young role players in Kessler, Clayton, Brice, Flip. If Zay looks good running the point I might start buying stock in the Jazz.
Outside noise on Bailey not wanting to be in Utah….LOL, literally it was his own camp who didn’t want him in Utah. More like inside noise
A “guest coach”. At a celebrity or charity, that would be fine. Do they take these games seriously? College player one day; NBA coach the next day. He may turn out to be a great coach, one day. But, it seems to me that you need to work your way up the coaching ladder. Sounds like outside distractions. A young player needs to focus on adjusting to the NBA life. It ain’t College. There will be plenty of distractions.
The whole Ace drama was a bunch of nonsense from the start, as usual played up by the media. Did he, perhaps, want to go elsewhere? Maybe. But now that he’s with the Jazz, he has all the incentive in the world to make the most of his opportunity.
I mean, what is his alternative? Pout and lower his stock around the NBA? Sabatoge his own development and future earning power? And it’s not like he ended up in NBA purgatory. Hardy is a decent coach and the Jazz will give him a sufficient role and opportunity. Not at all surprised to see the positive early reviews (which I’m inclined to believe are true and not just saving face).
Sensabaugh is a walking bucket
I am sure more trades are coming for Utah.
I hope Ace wins ROY, shuts up everyone and then immediately leaves Utah when he can in a few years when Utah is still a bottom dweller.